The Underrated Natural Wonder Every Tennessean Should See At Least Once

Tennessee is thick with beauty, from the swampy Mississippi lowlands to the craggy peaks of the eastern mountains, but there is one strange natural wonder in the Chattanooga area that has folks scratching their heads. Umbrella Rock is located in the Lookout Mountain area of Tennessee, but the strange sight is commonly overlooked in light of the famed Ruby Falls and Lookout Point. Although you can’t take photos on Umbrella Rock any longer, there are plenty of vintage shots that keep people gaping even today.

John Getchel - Flickr

Lookout Mountain remains one of the most popular attractions in both the Volunteer State and Georgia, and it is best known for straddling Tennessee’s southern border. Both a town and natural wonder, Lookout Mountain is famed for the steep slope of the Incline Railway and the awe-inducing underground Ruby Falls, as well as the views from Point Park and Sunset Rock.

Brent Moore - Flickr

Umbrella Rock is on top of Lookout Mountain, and it was one of the most popular spots for an impressive photograph from the 1880s to the mid-1940s. The distinct formation was epitomized by Civil War troops after the "Battle Above the Clouds," when a local photographer began taking photos of soldiers with the odd rock.

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After the war soldiers returned home with their wild photos tucked away to show friends and family, and interest in Umbrella Rock boomed. Tourists made their way to the rock for decades until it was finally fenced off due to growing safety concerns.

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Internet Book Archive - Flickr

Every once in a while Point Park will open up access to the rock for photos, but only very rarely. Umbrella Rock was the first tourist destination in the Lookout Mountain area, and though it remains naturally stunning, it is unsafe to traverse the area. The natural wonder is federally protected.

John Toohey - Flickr

You can take photos from a distance though! If you hike your way up Lookout Mountain just keep your eyes peeled as you enjoy the beauty of the mountain's incredible view. Umbrella Rock is there, you just can't climb it any longer.

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What a wild place! Did you know that Umbrella Rock existed in Tennessee, or perhaps that it was so famous back in the day?

This story is strange, but it truly is one of the most fascinating. Who knew that a rock could be made famous by Civil War soldiers? Or that people so badly wanted photos of a precarious rock formation in Tennessee? You can see some more of Tennessee’s natural rock formations and incredible views at Pogue Creek Overlook State Natural Area!